Very unique! If you are going to Austin, make arrangements for a tour. This house has been…read morefeatured in a lot of different books and magazines.

Keep Austin Weird is one of those phrases that is synonymous with Austin (in addition to barbecue)…read more There is so much interesting art here in Austin that you should consider looking into when visiting Austin, with Casa Neverlandia being one of them. Casa Neverlandia is a three story, colorful home located behind Goodwill Baptist Church, that was created by James Talbot, or as he referred to himself as "Talbot" when we met him for a private tour of his home. Casa Neverlandia originally started out as a one story home built in the early 1900's. Mr. Talbot purchased this home and started to transform it into what you see now in my photos and what you find online. According to Mr. Talbot, he grew up in a military family, traveling all around the world and living in some unusual places that includes a treehouse in Honduras. He has a college degree in architecture and has always been fascinated with building things, as you can see with his home today. To him, he builds this home for himself to reflect upon his spiritual side but also include some unique things for his physical needs, as he lives rather a green lifestyle. My husband and I, along with our little girl dog (yes Mr. Talbot allowed for us to bring our little dog with us) met Mr. Talbot outside of his home on a Sunday afternoon. We were lucky to be the only couple, as another couple was supposed to come but was told the date just didn't work with their schedule. Please note that it cost $15 per person for this tour and you can contact Mr. Talbot via phone or email to schedule a tour. At the front entrance of his home are numerous of doorbells, xylophones and bells. I believe there is over 40 of these things but Mr. Talbot says he can never have enough. He describes the mosaic tiles outside of the home, the snake, the outdoor patio seating area with the clouds element and so forth. Then inside, we see his living room with a beautiful and inviting fireplace and pit to help radiate heat for the first floor, indoor seating area that is meant to be an air alter with cool colors of green and a unique bookcase. We see some current artwork that he has for sale (no obligation to buy) that includes gorgeous hand beaded work and other things and then make our way to the small music room. Next, the kitchen has a lot of function to it more so than just design. Then we make our way up stairs. On the 2nd floor is a room that has a Thai like theme with the bamboo wall panels and red lacquered beams. This room has high ceilings and utilizes natural lighting since there is no lights in this room. Mr. Talbot says this is the room for parties and entertainment for guests. Then up one more floor is Mr. Talbot's room, which was featured on numerous of TV shows, magazines and books. From his bedroom, that has a safari theme to it, you can see a glimpse of downtown Austin. We were then lead to his bathroom where he is currently working on a bath tub with some kind of ocean wave like theme. Being that he has a background in architecture, he is able to create the structure of things the way he wants it. From his bedroom, we walk across a narrow plank bridge to his tree house or a tower. Climb a very narrow ladder and we are on the top of that tower and see great views of Austin. We eventually take a few narrow ladders down to the bottom, now in his backyard. From here, he takes us into his studio (built in the early 90's) and shows us what he is currently working on, which looks like a large clam shell. He uses soda cans that he has collected around Austin to decorate the shell. He also shows us this ocean like mural that will go with this clam shell. Then we eventually make our way outside. He tells us that he saves the rain water in large barrels, as he considers himself camping in his own home. He dresses up or down according to the weather and has a very low electric bill each month and water bill. Mr. Talbots has told us on the tour that he doesn't consider himself to be done with Case Neverlandia, as he is always building and changing things. And said that Casa Neverlandia may be different the next time we come back to Austin for another tour. Our tour lasted about 75 minutes, but we did make small talk with Mr. Talbot throughout. It was well worth our time to come out here and check out Casa Neverlandia and hope you will consider it too, especially if you are looking for something off the beaten path. You can see some of Mr. Talbot's artworks around Austin and a few other things in other states. Casa Neverlandia truly was a highlight of our visit to Austin and am so glad we were able to get a tour. Again as mentioned, it cost $15 per person for a tour and you can call Mr. Talbot at (512) 442-7613 or email him at talbot@talbotworld.com to inquire for a tour.

This is a cute little art experience. Don't go comparing it to Meow Wolf or anything -- its small…read moresize is one of its best characteristics! Hear me out -- it's not a major time commitment, it allows you to really focus on just a few installations, it's great for young kids, and it's affordable. You can see everything in under 30 minutes or you can spend a bit more time really engaging. They give you an hour, I believe, as part of your time slot. I felt like they did a good job limiting the amount of people coming in at a specific time. It didn't feel too crowded. The art installations were cute. They were interactive in pretty basic ways (climbing, etc.) but I brought my kids who really enjoyed them. If my kids are happy then so am I! I've never brought kids to any bigger art installations but I'd imagine the large scope could get overwhelming. This smaller size felt just right. I had my 3-year-old and my 17-month-old with me. They both had fun climbing and touching things. The price is reasonable and the fact that kids 3 and under are free is a major draw! Really nice staff. They had someone on the floor at all times. She was very friendly and not intrusive (offered just enough advice to be helpful). Their customer service is great as well! The first time I booked, I got sick. It was my daughter's birthday so she went with her daddy and I stayed home with my son. Mesmerize staff was super nice and let me rebook on a different date (weeks later). Believe it or not, I got sick again (been endless with my daughter bringing home bugs from school this season). They were also nice enough to let me push the day back so I could get better before visiting. I really appreciate their flexibility. So even though tickets are non-refundable, they will help you reschedule in case of illness. Parking was easy. Clean bathroom inside. Easy to go in/out (if you have to return to your car). Ultimately, this is a cute date idea that leaves ample time for dinner or a nice way to occupy kids, including toddlers!

What a fantastic fun time! This type of Art Exhibit is so enjoyable that they did a really nice job…read moreon this one and the staff was helpful and took some photos for us as well. We got a ton of really fun pictures but I'm only sharing the one that does not have one of either my wife or Iin it.

Came here for a bachelorette party, where you're able to reserve the place for a private party…read more There's a mechanical bull ride, karaoke, and claw machine. We had a great time - just what we needed on this girl's weekend!

This is a unique experience perfect for a girls night or bachelorette trip. My one recommendation…read morewould be to play the music a little louder so it's less awkward and more of a party feel but other than that it was great

The sunset light sequence is slow and mediative. Conversation is quiet but I feel like I bond with…read morethe strangers who watch it with me whenever I go. Turrell is a great living artist and this is my favorite of his works. Plus, the benches inside are heated. It's also really beautiful when rain is falling through the oculus. The light show starts at a different time every night according to the time of sunset. It is about an hour and 5 minutes long. You have to walk onto the roof of the student activity center at UT Austin to find it, but someone will be there to check you in and answer questions. The light show is free but it fills up so I recommend making a reservation online.

I have been following Turrell's pieces for awhile now. I was really sad to have missed his exhibit…read moreat LACMA, so when I heard they had installed a new one at UT, it immediately got on my list to visit. We are blessed to have 2 installments in Houston and another in Austin. This one is on the 3rd floor of the SAC (student activity center). It is open to the public, and does not require an ID to enter. When you get to the 3rd floor just make a right and walk outside onto the rooftop patio area. They do have reservations online, but there isn't anyone there to take them. Just like many of the other exhibits, you are there to observe the sky. It usually is very peaceful and quiet. But you are more than welcome to take pictures. Come as close to sunset as possible if you want to see the many colors of the sky along with the interior lighting.

Tiger Lilly is the newest occupant taking over 400 Colorado Street. If you've ever been to the late…read moreEstelle's, it offers a similar vibe with moody, elegant decor, but with a friendlier, more inviting atmosphere. There are no food offerings, but the specialty drinks offered are immaculate (& ridiculously overpriced for the size). Open Thursday to Saturday from 6 PM to 2 AM, the space boasts vintage furniture, eclectic artwork, and carefully curated décor. Tiger Lilly has two floors, the first floor showcasing a bar and bar stools around and the second floor with more dining spaces and modular spaces for intimate conversations. There are also private rooms and a whole venue buyout for rent.

We visited Tiger Lilly for my girlfriend's birthday weekend, and let me just say, it was a vibe…read more She had been looking for a spot that had that moody, speakeasy feel with an artsy aesthetic for some birthday pics, and this place delivered. We actually found it pretty last minute and decided to go early since we knew we'd be taking photos and didn't want to deal with crowds. When we arrived, it was pretty quiet, which honestly worked out perfectly for us. The décor is bold and eclectic in the best way, think velvet booths, curated gallery walls, low lighting, and these amazing feathered chandeliers that tie the whole space together. We ordered the Tiger Lilly cocktail and the Elote, both were fantastic. The drinks are not only pretty but good, which isn't always a given in places that are more vibe-forward. Ours were balanced, flavorful, and well-presented. The DJ was there, early, which was a nice surprise, it gave the whole place some life without being overwhelming. The staff was super kind, especially the manager who came by to check in and even gave us a little background on the space. We appreciated how welcoming everyone was. We heard that the night before had been packed, so it sounds like this place definitely fills up later at night. We're looking forward to coming back when it's livelier to get the full experience, but for a chill early visit focused on ambiance, great service, and creative drinks, it absolutely hit the mark. Pro tip: If you're someone who loves a visually aesthetic experience and wants a place to snap a few pics before the rush, go early like we did. Can't wait to return!

Thea museum is fun. A quick walk-through, but it's really fun. So I do recommend it's not so big to…read moreactually take your time and read the plaques and take a lot of photos. Before you enter the museum here in this little gift shop so you are able to buy little interesting things if you wanted to. And then as you're going through the museum, you end up in another gift shop so you have two opportunities to buy weird objects. But we did enjoy it if we ever end up in Texas again we would honestly do it again

It is something to do when it's hot. The AC works except in the wax room. It smells awful!!!…read moreThey encourage you to take pics with King Kong which involves getting on knees and climbing up thru the hand. Well my dress had a dark brown wet stain on it as I stood up. Looked like poop -it wasn't but it sure looked like it. Bathroom out of order but they let me in and stain still there. So $25 for 2 to get in and I possibly ruined a brand new dress. Wasn't impressed at all by the place.

I wish they had one of these in Miami!!! Such a cool concept for an arcade…read more It's as noisy as any arcade but they do have seating area outside which is cool because they have swings as seats. Beers were nice and cold and the games are fairly priced. Parking is ample

I can't believe you can play all you want for only twelve bucks. Love it!…read more Arcade bars are the greatest invention ever, so much fun. In top of the great games, the food is good too. The pizza and salads are kicking. Really good beer, cocktail, and n/a choices. Love the setup, decor, swings, and vibe. No kids after hours=great! Friendly and fun service.

This is a a great little bookstore and boutique focusing on LGBTQ topics. I don't know how long I…read morehad it bookmarked but it caught our attention some time ago and it was great to pay a visit here. The selection is great as it has fiction and nonfiction books. I also spotted some photo books and coffee table books which I do enjoy getting from time to time. The accessories are various items and they are fun and unique. There is cards and if I recall correctly socks for example. The gentleman that worked here was very nice and helpful with all of our questions. This bookstore reminds me and take me back to the 1990's as I just came out to myself and was curious and eager to learn about LGBTQ history and I would come across these little independently owned stores that specialized in this and I learned so much. So coming here was a slice of nostalgia of my younger years which was a pleasant reminiscing.

This store is genuinely great for gift shopping. If you need a present, you'll probably find…read moresomething perfect without the usual chaos of fighting traffic and crowds on Congress. Much easier to just slip over to 12th Street, do your shopping, and then reward yourself with a drink next door (as you should). Highly recommend for a relaxed, feel-good browse. Also, I've heard about their Pride Market in June ...definitely on my list to visit!